ON GUANO, AND ITS COMPARATIVE MERITS. 



195 



Composition of different kinds of Guano. 



Mr. Lister Maw, of Tetley, near Crowle, rose to make a 

 few observations to tlie company. He produced several 

 turnips, which he said had been grown on his farm for fold- 

 yard manure. And not only was that particular land in a 

 high state of cultivation, but he had succeeded in bringing' 

 other farms, step by step, into an equal state of cultivation, 

 so that they had in fact trebled their produce. He had 

 made some observations last year at Beverley, and he then 

 stated that he had opportimities, which very few in this 

 coimtry had, of making himself acquainted with the manner 

 in which the Incas of Peru carried on their operations. 

 Now, with respect to the relative value of guano, he be- 

 lieved that the Peruvian guano would be found to be the 

 best. And, however much he might respect chemical know- 

 ledge as applied to agriculture, and however much they 

 might be indebted (as they undoubtedly were) to such men 

 as the learned professor, he still thought that the chemical 

 affinities and compounds which were going on in nature were 

 not exactly ascertained in the chemical analysis of the 

 laboratory of the chemist. The peculiarity of Peruvian 

 guano was, that it contained no moisture. It was a great 

 peculiarity of that country that no rain fell on the western 

 coast. And the guano of Peru being preserved in a dry 

 state was much better than that of any other country. He 

 believed the same remarks might ajjply to pigeon mamxre, 

 and that because it was kept in a dry state in the pigeon 

 cot. Mr. Maw showed, by a drawing, the manner of apply- 

 ing- guano by the Incas. Another fact to which he alluded 



